Season series: Not only is this the first of three meetings between the teams this season, it's the first time they've seen each other since Jan. 1, 2012, when the Predators beat the Flames 5-3 in Nashville. Calgary comes to Bridgestone Arena next Thursday.

Big story: Time is starting to run down on both the Predators and Flames as they battle to finish in the top eight in the West. Both teams start the weekend on the outside looking in.

Team Scope:

Predators: Nashville's only trip of the season to Scotiabank Saddledome is the third stop on a five-game trip that has seen the wildly different results. The Predators were almost flawless on Tuesday in a 4-0 win at Dallas, but sprung a multitude of defensive leaks two nights later while losing 7-4 in Vancouver.

Nashville made a late comeback, cutting Vancouver's 5-2 lead to 5-4 before Henrik Sedin scored on a penalty shot and David Booth hit the empty net.

"Nice little comeback at the end," coach Barry Trotz said. "I didn't think the score was an indication of how the game was, unfortunately everything that, I think happened early was self-inflicted. We battled back, we had some chances, but we couldn't bury enough."

Trotz said goalie Pekka Rinne, who was pulled Thursday after allowing four goals on 12 shots, will be back in goal against the Flames.

Flames: Calgary might have played its best 20 minutes of the season in the third period against Detroit on Wednesday night, outscoring the Red Wings 3-0 and win 5-2, ending a three-game losing streak.

The Flames got physical on the forecheck in the final period, forcing turnovers that they were able to turn into goals. Most notable was forward Curtis Glencross, who had a goal and an assist in the big third period.

"Glennie was unbelievable," coach Bob Hartley said after Thursday's practice. "Skating, hitting, creating plays, he was our best on the forecheck and delivered many big body checks. I think that had a direct effect on our third period.

"We got the Red Wings to cough up a couple pucks and we turned it with a great transition game and we got three quick goals. Glennie certainly set the game up for us."

Who's hot: Nashville's David Legwand extended his points streak to five games with an assist on Thursday. Gabriel Bourque's third-period goal was his team-high eighth and the most he's had in one season. … Curtis Glencross and Lee Stempniak are coming off two-point nights against Detroit.